Movable signboard



Dec. 15, 1925- 1.565.285

M. C. MERKER MOVABLE SIGNBOARD Filed'MarCh 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l @am6a 2 w Dec. 15, 1925. 1,565,285

M. c. MERKER MOVABLE S IGNBOARD Filed March 2o, 1923 2 sheets-snaai 2 /agluucnfoz allume i Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oF'FlcE. f

MONTE C. MERKER, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MERKER, ELLIS,

KRAMER COMPANY, 0F READING, PENNSYLVANIA, A COPARTNERSHIP COM- POSED OFMONTE C. MERKER, HARRY G. ELLIS, AND PAUL A. KRAMER. i

MOTTABLE SIGNIBOARD.

Application led March 20, 1923. Serial No. 626,363.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MONTE C. MERKER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Reading, county of Berks, Pennsylvania., have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Movable Signboards, of which thefollowing is a-specification.

My invention relates to sign boards. The ordinary sign board isstationary and only one side of the same is available for the display ofsigns. Such stationary sign boards are always seen from the same anglesand in course of time fail to attract attention. boards also requireconsiderable space for their support thus making it necessaryytopurchase or rent land upon which to erect the same. My invention aims toprovide or rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and soconstructed that it will be caused to move by the force of the wind andchange its position from time to time, which tends to attract attention.As such a board may have one side or the other exposed to view bothsides are available for signs thus doubling the available area of thesign board as compared with a stationary sign board of the same length.A further object of my invention is to provide a construction in whichafter the sign board is displaced to a limited extent from its originalposition it will be automatically returned to such position thusproviding a construction in which the sign will normally remain insubstantially the same positionunless considerable force is appliedthereto. A still further object is to provide a construction in whichthe sign board is capable of rotating in one direction by application ofa certain amount of force but in which considerably greater resistanceis offered to rotation of the same in the opposite direction, theconstruction however being so arranged as to permit rotation in the lastmentioned direction when suiicient force is applied. A still furtherobject of the inventionis to provide a support for the sign board whichwill require little space and which will not materially interfere withthe tilling of the soil about the same. An additional object is toprovide a sign-board so constructed that signs may be easily inserted Asusually constructed such sign my preferred form of construction certainparts appearing in elevation.

F1gure 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a slightly modified form ofconstruction, certain parts 1n this figure also appearing in elevation.Figure 5 isa horizontal section on the line 5-15 of Figure 4, and a signboard mounted so as to be movable Figure 6 is a vertical section on theline 6-.-6 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figs. l, 2 and3, the numeral 10 indicates a post or pedestal for supporting the signboard, this pedestal preferably being mounted upon a concrete foundation11. I prefer to support the signon a single pedestal so that it willrequire only. a small amount of space on which to erect the same andwill not .interfere to board. With a construction of this kind'therefore it is unnecessary to purchase or rent a considerable tract ofland on which to erect a sign.

In the preferred form of my device illustrated in said Fi s. 1, 2 and 3,the sign board is made'up of a suitable rectangular frame 12 whichpreferably includes upper and lower members 13 and 14 providedrespectively with spaced grooves 13, 13" and 14, 14j for receiving thesigns 15 and 16. Preferably the parts are so arranged that the signs maybe inserted by slipping the same into the frame from one end thereof.Since the sign board is movable so that different sides may be presentedto view at different times, both sides may be utilized for the displayof signs thus doubling the capacity of the sign board. Also by makingthe signs removable, they may be painted or prepared in a shop and laterinserted by unsisl Tos

skilled workmen into the sign boards, thus v to afford further means forrigidly securingv range pipes or rods. 17 beneath the frame 12 which pies are threaded into or otherwise secure to a supporting member 18.Connected to the outer ends of the pipes 17 are pipes or rods 19 whichextend upwardly through the frame 12 and at their upper ends receivenuts 20 by which the frame is rigidly attached to the (pipes 17.-Another pipe or rod 21 is secure to the member 18 and extends upwardlythrough the middle of the frame and is provided with a nut 22 the frameto the supporting member 18. In this form of my construction thepedestal 10 is provided atv its upper end with an extension 10, theseparts being secured together by means of a coupling 23 'or in any otherdesired manner. Between the portions 10 and 10a of the fpedestal Iprovide a bearing member 24 or a purpose hereinafter described. It is ofcourse apparent that the parts 10 and 10 of the pedestal may,'ifdesired, be made integral and that the bearing member may be formed as aweb or partition in such pedestal. Secured to the member 18 andextending downwardly there-l from is a pivot member 25,' this memberbeing rotatably arranged in the upper end of the pedestal and yhavingits lower end resting on the bearing member 24. An annular space 25a isformed between the pivot member and the adjacent wall of the pedestal`which is adapted to receive a suitable lubricant. It will thus beseenthat the bearing member 211 acts as a means for supporting theentire sign board and that the board may be rotated on this bearing.

On the upperpend of the pedestal I se- Y cure a cam member 26 in anysuitable manner. Preferably this member is bolted to a plug 27 threadedinto the upper end of the' extension 10 of the pedestal and held by aset screw 27a. rlhe cam member 26 is substantially circular andsurrounds the -pivot member 25 heretofore mentioned. The cam member 26on its upper face is provided with a plurality ofinclined `or camsurfaces 30 and also with a plurality of other inclined or cam surfaces31, the latter of which are inclined'to the horizontal at a greaterangle than the surfaces 30. The lower portion of the member 18 is shapedto form a cam member 32 for co-operating with the cam member 26, or ifdesired this cam member 32 may be formed separate from the member 18 andsecured thereto. lower` face the cam member 32 is provided with a seriesof inclined surfaces 30a and 31EL which correspond respectively with theinclined surfaces 30 and 31 of the cam member 26. In short the two cammembers 26 On its y and 32 are provided with complementary cam orinclined surfaces which are adapted to fit and cooperate with each otherthe high portions of the member 26 being adapted to t into the lowportions or depressions of the member 32 and vice versa. An upwardlyextending iane 28 on member 26 serves to'retain oil in t e member 26 sothat the cam surfaces are always thoroughly lubricated."

From the foregoing it will be seen that the sign board is mounted forpivotal movement about a vertical axis which correspends to the axis ofthe pivot member 25 and the rod or bar 21. The axis about which theframe of the sign board is movable is preferably arranged somewhatnearer one end Aof the sign board than the other, the purpose of thisarrangementbeing to avoid the tendency of the sign board to rotate inthe wind. By making one end shorter than the vother the wind will serveto hold the short end of the board in the direction' from which the windis blowing after the manner of a weather vane. In order to minimize theforce of the wind against the edge of the sign board facing the samesuch edge is provided with a triangular or beveled piece 35 which issecured to the frame so that one ange of such piece will be held towardthe win With a construction of the kind described -it will be understoodthat the sign will normally be held in a certain position by vthe camsurfaces on the members 26 and 32. The action of the wind against thesign board will tend to cause rotation of the same about its verticalaxis but such action will be resisted more or less by the cam surfacesonv the members 26 and 32. As the wind acts in one direction upon theboard it will cause the surfaces 30 and 30a of the cam members to slideover each other a certain distance vbut the tendency will be for theboard to return to its original position as the forcey of the winddecreases. Thus the board will be kept-in a more or less constant motionby the action of the wind. In case the wind blows in a direction tendingto cause the cam surfaces 31 and 31a to contact, greater resistance willbe offered against lrotation but while these surfaces offer considerableresistance they are such as to yield incase sufficient force is appliedthereto. It will of course be understood that if the sign board isrotated sufficiently to cause the up er cam surfaces 30a to passentirely over t e lower cam surfaces 30 the board will tend to rotatestill `further in the same direction due to the action of the camsurfaces 31 and 31a and it will take a new position at an angle to itsformer position. But if the board does not rotate a suiiicient distanceto cause the upper cam surfaces 30 to pass entirely over thecorresponding lower cam surfaces then the board will tend to return toits original position. Thus as above stated the board is kept movingback and forth more or less which causes it to attract more attentionthan it would if it were stationary. Furthermore, if, due to the actionof the wind, the sign board is rotated so as to point in differentdirections at different times this difference in appearance and locationof the boardl only serves to take up new positions or attract attentionand since both sides of the board are provided with signs it isimmaterial which side is exposed to observation.

In Figure 4 I have shown a somewhat modifiedform of construction. Inthis form the 4upper cam member 32L is secured directly to the frame 12aand the lower cam member 26a is rigidly mounted on the upper end of theedestal 10. In this form of device also a ar or rod 36 is rigidlysecured to the member 26a or to the upper end of the pedestal 10 whichrod or bar extends upwardly through the frame 12El and forms vthe pivotor axisabout which the frame may rotate. The inclined surfaces on theupper and lower members 32a and 26a in this form of device are the sameas those on the members 32 and 26 previously described.

It may some times be desirable to insert the signs 15a, 16L into theframe from the lower edge thereof instead of from one end as previouslystated and in order `that this may be done I provide the lower edge ofthe frame 12il in this form of device with pivoted retaining members 37hinged at their lower edge. These retaining members, it will beunderstood, may be swung downwardly into substantially vertical positionand the signs, either as a whole on in sections, then slipped upwardlyinto the frame. After the signs are thus inserted into the frame theretaining members 37 may be swung upwardly into the position shown inFig. 6 in which osition they are adapted to bear against t e signs inthe frame and securely hold the same. .Any suitable means may of coursebe provided for holding such retaining members after they have beenswung upwardly. If desired, additional means maybe provided forretaining signs in the frame and in Figure 4 I have shown a wire 38attached at one end to substantially the central portion of the frameand having a loop at the other end which is adapted to hook over a camlever 39 mounted on a lug 40 secured to the other end of the frame. Byhooking the loop of .the wire over such cam lever and then forcing thelever into the position shown in Figure 4 the Wire is drawn taut acrossthe face of the sign in the frame and holds the same securely inposition.

It is of course apparent that various modications may be made in thedetails of construction heretofore described and it is not to beunderstood that 'the invention is limited to such details except asrequired by. the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

A movable sign board comprising a frame mounted to move about a verticalaxis intermediate its ends, said axis being located nearer to one endthan the other of said frame, vwhereby rotation of the frame by the windis revented, means for yieldingly holding saidp frame in an originalposition, means tending to cause said frame to return to its originalposition after it is displaced therefrom, and means for yieldinglyholding said framev in a new position at an angle to its original'position after the same has been displaced a predetermined degree fromits original position.

2. A movable sign board comprising a frame, a support on which saidframe is mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical. axis,means for yieldingly holding said frame in a plurality of positions atan angle to each other, said means comprising a stationary membersecured to said support and a movable member secured to and rotatablewith said frame, said stationary member having a cam surface providedwith a plurality of high and low portions and said movable member havinga projection adapted to slide over said cam surface and rest in any oneof the low portions thereof.

3. A movable sign board comprising a frame, a support on which saidframe is mounted for rotation about-a substantially vertical axis, meansfor yieldingly holding said frame in a plurality of positions at anangle to each other, said means comprising a stationary member securedto said support and a movable member secured to and rotatable with saidframe, said stationary member having a cam surface provided with aplurality of high and low portions and said movable member also having acam surface provided-with a plurality of high and low portions adaptedto cooperate with the high and low portions on said stationary member.

4. A movable sign board comprising a frame, a support on which saidframe is mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, meansfor yieldingly holding said frame in a plurality of positions at anangle to each other, said means comprising a member secured to saidsupport and a member secured to said frame, one of said members having acam surface provided with a plurality of high and low portions and theother member having a part adapted to slide over said cam surface andrest in any one of said low portions of said cam surface.

A movable sign board comprising a frame, a support on which said frameis mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, means foryieldngly holding said frame in an initial position and for moving itinto a new position at an angle to its initial position after it hasbeen rofated a predetermined degree from its initial position, saidmeans comprising two members, one of which is secured to said supportand the other to said frame, one of said members having a surfaceprovided with a plurality of depressions each provided with inclinedsides and the other member having a projection adapted to slide oversaid surface and rest in any one of said depressions.

6. A movable sign board including a frame, means for supporting the samefor movement about a substantially vertical axis, said means comprisinga hollow pedestal having a bearing surface therein below the upper endthereof, a pivot member secured to said frame and extending downwardlyinto said pedestal and resting on said bearing surface, a member securedto said pedestal and having on its upper face a plurality of high andlow surfaces, a member secured to said frame and having on its lowerface a plurality of high and low surfaces for cooperation with saidfirst named surfaces upon rotation of said frame about its axis.

7. A movable sign board including a frame means for supporting the samefor pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, a fixed cammember arranged concentrically with said axis, a second cam member alsoarranged concentrically with said axis and secured' to said frame, eachof said cam members having a plurality of inclined surfaces ada ted tocooperate when said frame is rotate in one wayv about its axis, and alsohaving a lurality of inclined surfaces of greater lnclination than saidfirst named surfaces adapted to cooperate when said frame is rotated theother way about its axis.

8. A movable sign board, means for supporting the same for movementabout a substantially vertical axis, a fixed cam member surrounding saidaxis and having a plurality of high and low surfaces on its upper face,ya second member ri idly ysecured beneath the lower edge of said board,

said last named member having a plurality ofhigh and low surfaces on thelower face thereof arranged to cooperate with the surfaces on said firstnamed member, each of said members being in the form of a hollowcylinder, whereby a s ace is formed within said members for t ereception of lubricant.

9. A movable sign board, means for supporting the same for movementabout a substantially vertical axis, a fixed member surrounding saidaxis and having an upwardly projecting flange provided on its upper facewith a plurality of high and low cam surfaces, a second member rigidlysecured to said board and having a downwardly projecting flange providedon its lower face with a plurality of high and low cam surfaces adaptedto cooperate with the first named cam surfaces, said flanges beingspaced from said axis whereby a space is formed within said members forthe reception of lubricant.

lnV testimony whereof l hereunto affix my signature. 'f

MONTE C. MERKER.

